Spectacular Love

Prologue

"Do you really want to continue this?"

I took a deep breath, and then I nodded. It took me 2 long years to think everything through so that I'd be ready when this day comes. At ngayong nandito na, hindi na ako magpapakaduwag. I won't back down. I won't run away, not anymore. Umuwi ako ng Pilipinas para rito, dahil alam kong makikita ko siya rito ngayon... sana. Kahit hindi ko muna siya makausap, kahit masilayan ko na lang muna siya ay ayos na sa akin.

"Tinay." I tried my best to smile, and I did. Tumango ulit ako kay Ace to assure her that I will be fine. Or at least I am trying.

Inayos ko ang Chanel cross-body bag ko at muling huminga nang malalim. Naunang pumasok sa loob si Ace at sumunod lang ako. The moment we went inside, kumalabog ang puso ko kasabay ang sobrang lakas na tugtug ng bar. Maraming ka-batch namin from different campuses ang naghiyawan nang makita akong kasama ni Ace. I smiled faintly as they welcomed us, or me.

"Martina!"

"Huy, you're here!"

"Oh my god, Martina! You look dashing!"

"Hi, foreigner!"

"Welcome back, Martina!"

"Hoy, we missed you!"

Ngumiti ako nang mapait habang tinatanggap ang bati ng mga schoolmates and friends from other universities namin dati. Some hugged me, some kissed my cheeks. I looked around to see the whole vicinity. It was dark, but the dancing neon lights are enough for us to see things.

Halos ang wild na ng mga tao, dahil na rin siguro sa ilang oras na lang ay maga-alas dose na.

Napangiti ako nang mas malawak nang mahagip ng mata ko ang dalawang babae na familiar sa akin at mukhang nagbabangayan. I chuckled. God knows how much I miss them.

"There they are!" Ace grabbed my hand at hinila ako palapit kila Tonia at Lei. Their eyes widened nang masilayan kami. Halos magtatalon ang dalawa sa couch habang iniintay kaming makarating ni Ace sa couch kung nasaan sila. Kulang na lang ay tumakbo sila palapit sa amin.

"Tinay! Ace!" They shouted in chorus. Mas lalo akong natawa dahil sa tinis ng mga boses nila. They haven't changed, like at all. Mas lumawak pa ang ngiti ko nang makalapit kami sa kanila at yakapin kami.

"Grabe! I missed you, bruha!" Halos naiiyak na sabi ni Lei. She was still hugging me. I chuckled, while tapping her back.

"I missed you too!" Naiiyak kong sambit. Tonia then pulled Lei away from me when it was already her turn to hug me. Mas lalo akong natawa sa inasta niya. Hindi pa rin talaga nagbabago ang bruhang 'to. Napakabratinela pa rin!

"Hoy, bruhilda ka! Hindi kita namiss, pakyu!" She said while wiping her tears. Pagkatapos ay niyakap na rin ako. I almost cried too but fortunately I didn't. Ayokong masira ang makeup ko tonight.

"Hindi mo sure, Tonia." Pang-aasar ko rito. After a while ay humiwalay na rin sa pagkakayakap si Tonia at umupo na kaming lahat sa couch.

Pinagmasdan ko ang mga drinks na nasa table namin. Sobrang tagal na noong huli kong inom. I opened a bottle of Gin at nagsalin sa shot glass at mabilis 'yong ininom. Naramdaman kong gumuhit ang init sa lalamunan ko. It was too late for me to get a chaser so hinayaan ko na lang. Mabilis rin namang nawala. I just hope that my alcohol tolerance didn't decrease during those years of not drinking.

Sa aming apat, si Ace lang ang hindi umiinom nang sobra since she's working at their hospital and according to her, she doesn't want to destroy her liver. Baka rin raw maaga siyang mapatay ng tatay niya. It's weird how her father can say such thing despite owning a hospital.